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Pirates Closer Joel Hanrahan Traded To Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly putting the finishing touches on a multi-player deal that includes Pirates right-handed closer Joel Hanrahan, an MLB All Star in 2011 and 2012.

In exchange for Hanrahan, the Pirates will reportedly receive highly regarded prospects Jerry Sands, an outfielder who came over from the Dodgers in the blockbuster summer trade, and right handed starter Stolmy Pimentel, according to the MLB Trade Rumors website. Other players may also be involved in the transaction.

The acquisition of Hanrahan, 31, puts Andrew Bailey’s status with Boston up in the air, as ESPN explains: “With incumbent closer Andrew Bailey still a question mark after a season in which he was injured for most of the year, then pitched ineffectively, it makes sense that the Sox would explore bullpen upgrades.”

The Sox traded Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers for Bailey in December 2011 after Jonathan Papelbon, the team’s closer from 2005 to 2011, signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the 2012 season, Hanrahan was 5-2 with 36 saves and a 2.72 ERA in 58 innings. In the 2011 season, Hanrahan had 40 saves and a 1.83 ERA. He made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2007 and was traded to the Pirates in 2009.

In the meantime, Sox clubhouse/fan favorite Cody Ross signed a three-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks according to MLB.com. Sox management was unwilling to go beyond two years for the popular outfielder.